Proposal on the provision of court and tribunal estate in England and Wales
In July, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), who provides support for the administration of justice in courts throughout England and Wales, launched a consultation on the provision of court and tribunal estate with the aim of reducing the cost of running the estate and reinvesting the savings to improve access to justice.
The proposals made by the consultation would see the closure of 91 out of the 460 courts that HMCTS operates.
The Citizens Advice Witness Service, funded by the Ministry of Justice, operates from every criminal court in England and Wales, putting us in a unique position to be able to identify how witnesses would be affected by the proposed closure of 2 crown courts and 57 magistrates’ courts as well as the impact on the vital service we deliver, our staff and volunteers.